Hedge-trimmer.



No. 856,871. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

G. 0. HOPPE.

HEDGE TRIMMER. APPLIOATI N FILED rnn.1a, 1907.

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HEDGE-TRIMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed February 15,1907 Serial No. 857,517.

1'0 ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnouen O. Horrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Culm, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hedge-'Irimmers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hedge trimmers and it has I particular reference to a hedge trimming machine including reciprocating knives working at angles to one another and designed to simultaneously prune the top and side of the hedge.

The invention particularly resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be set forth as the description proceeds, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like characters of references designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein Figure 1. is a top plan view of a hedge trimmer constructed in accordance with my invention and I 2 is a front elevation thereof.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I employ a supporting frame carrying a transverse shaft 2 from which extend centrally located diagonal brace bars 3, the latter at their ends having lixcd connection with and supporting the tongue 4:. Traction wheels 5 are fixed to the shaft 2 in order that said shaft may be rotated therefrom to transmit movement to the operating parts. A clutch member 6 is splined upon said shaft for axial movement. To this end, a lever 7 is employed, said lever being connected pivotally to said clutch member as at S and along its body portion to a stationary bracket 0.

The clutch member 6 is designed to engage a similar clutch member 10, loose on the shaft 2 and having no axial movement. The member 10 has cast integral therewith a bevel gear 11. The frame 1 supports from its rear bar I a gear frame 12 having a sleeve bearing 13 within which is mounted a shaft 14 carrying at its ends pinions 15 and 16. The pinion, arbitrarily designated 15 meshes with the pinion 11 on one side and with a pinion 1 7 on the otherside. The latter is cast integral with a sleeve 18 loose on the shaft 2 and having at its outer end a pinion 19.

An elevated frame 20 is supported from the rear bar 1 of the frame 1 and said frame, together with said rear bar affording a hearing for a vertical shaft 21 carrying at its lower end a bevel gear 22 meshing with the gear 16 and driven therefrom. At its upper end the shaft 21 carries a disk 23 to which is pivoted at a point off-center so as to attain an eccentric movement, a link or pitman 4 pivoted at its outer end to the sickle bar 25, the latter being of any conventional form.

The frame 20 includes at one side thereof spaced parallel inclined bars 26, which at their lower ends are fixed to the adjacent brace 3 and side bar of the fl'tUILO 1. The bars 26 conjointly constitute suppm'ting bearings for a transverse horizontal shaft 27 having a similar function to the shaft 21. A bracket bearing 28 is fixed to a stationary part of the frame and a second bracket bearing 29 is carried by the inner bar 26. An in clined shaft 30, is journalcd in said bracket bearing and carries at its lower end a bevel pinion 31 nleshing with the pinion 19 and at its upper end a bevel pinion 32. The pinion 32 meshes with a bevel pinion 33 carried at the inner end of the shaft 27. The shaft thus constitutes a connecting gear clement between the differential driving gear and the shaft 27 and in this function the pinion 32 meshes with a pinion 33 provided on the end of said shaft 27. At its other end the shaft 27 carries a disk 34 which has eccentric, pivotal connection with a Pit/1112111 or link 35 for reciprocating the sickle bar 36, the latter being similar in construction to the sickle bar 25 previously described. A post 37, carrying a drivers seat 38 is secured within the frame 1 adjacent the gear frame 12.

The manner of use will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. The various connections described impart simultaneous reciprocating movement to the sickle bars and 36, the former working in a horizontal plane and trimming the top of the hedge, and the latter working in a vertical plane and trimming the side of the hedge. The gear can be operated or not at option during the movement of the wheels 5 by ongaging or disengaging the clutch members 6 and 10, such action being effected by the proper movement of the former through the means set forth.

While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes set forth it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions shape and arrangement of the several ICC parts without departing from. the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, I claim A hedge trimmer comprising a supporting frame, a shaft ournaled therein, traction Wheels carried by said shaft, a clutch meni ber splined on said shaft for axial movement, a clutch member loose on said shaft, a bevel pinion fixed to said last named clutch member, means for engaging and disengaging said clutch members, a vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft, sickle bars one driven from each of said last named shafts, pitmen connect- I5 ing said last named shafts With their respective sickle bars and gear trains driven from said pinion and operatively connected. to said last named shafts.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature 20 in presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE O. HOPPE.

Vitnesses JOHN BROSNAIIAN, CHAS. F SHAFER. 

